Game apparatus.



w.'w. HARBOURT.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, I910.

hm 1 9 1 M 1 N u m N 1 W a D1 an ueutoz WILSON W. HARBOURT, OF PEWEE VALLEY, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 JAMES L. CAPLINGER, OF PEWEE VALLEY, KENTUCKY.

' GAME APPARATUS.

Speeiflcatiotrs Patent. Patented July 11, 1916,

Application filed March 22, 1916. Serial No. 85,911.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILSON W. HARl30URT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pewee Valley, in the county of Oldham and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the-followmg,1s a specification, reference being had to the accompanying' drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in game apparatus and has relatlon more particularly to an apparatus of this 1 general character wherein a surface. pro ecconstruction and in the combination and ar-. rangement of the several parts of my 1m- '40 tile is employed, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved apparatus of this general character whereln a game may be played closely resembling the well known game of baseball.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this general character .including novel and improved means whereby a projectile may be impelled. in a direction toward a striking member.

The invention also has for an object to provide an apparatus of this general character wherein a novel and improved striking means is employed and adapted to coact with a projectilethrown by the impelling means. v

Furthermore it is an object of the invention to employ a catching member of novel and improved construction which is adapted to be adjustably supported at a predetermined point relative to the striking member and in a position generally occupied by a player in the game of baseball.

The invention consists in the details of proved apparatus whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and other-- wise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. Y

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- L Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a game apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substan- 4: is an-enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-'-4 of Fig. 1.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a base board provided with the upstanding marginal flanges 2 and depicted on the upper face of the base board 1 is a birds-eye view of a baseball field, and suitably positioned upon the base 1 are the fielding members C positioned at points generally occupied by the fielding players in a baseball game and directly behind the home plate and at opposite sides thereof are the elding members 0 which serve as the receiving end of a battery, while the fielding members G are positioned at opposite sides ing one marginal portion adapted to rest directly upon the upper surface of the base plate 1 and provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 2 through which is loosely directed the threaded shank 3 projecting upwardly from the base plate 1 and with which is engaged the clamping nut 4, whereby it will be perceived that the fielding member 'may be readily and conveniently adjusted,

as the player of the game may deem to be ofbest advantage. ever, that the fielding members C are permanently secured in applied position.

The intermediate portion of the plate is It is to be noted, howformed in the upstanding flanges 5 whereby the opposite marginal portion 6 of the plate is spaced a predetermined distance relative to the upper face of the base plate 1, and it is to be observed that the marginal portion 6 is bowed inwardly in cross section whereby the projectile P may be 'efiectively held thereby. I

The projectile P is spherical inform and preferably formed of steel so that it will a have sulficient weight as to cause the same,

when impelled, to travel directly upon the upper surface of the base board 1 in order to facilitate the projectile P being caught by the various fielding members.

Projecting upwardly from the base board 1 at a predetermined distance at one side and rearwardly of the home plate is the bolt or pin 7 which also passes through the spacingblock 8 permanently fixed to the base board 1 and pivotally engaged intermediate its length with said bolt or pin 7 is the washer member 12 interposed between the.

striking member or bat 9 and the spacing block 8-as is believed to be clearly disclosed in the accompanying drawings.

Secured to the end of the striking member or bat 9 remote from its striking end is the retractile member 14:, preferably an elastic band, which is suitably anchored, as at 15, to the base board 1, whereby it will be perceived that after the striking end of the bat or member 9 has been retracted or drawn backwardly, requisite impulse will be imparted thereto when the striking member or hat 9 is released to knock the projectile P across the playing field, and it will be noted that should theprojectile, after having been struck by the member or bat 9, be caught by any of the fielding members C, C or. C an out will be registered. A fair ball will be determined in the'same manner. as in the well known game of baseball and any rules may be adopted which will determine the value of a hit or to control the other features of the game.

16 denotes a stop member suitably secured to the base plate 1 and with which the striking end of the member or bat 9 is adapted to contact in order to limit the rearward or retracted position of said member or bat.

The impelling member comprises. two elongated parallel members 17 having adjacent extremities connected by the cross bar 18, whereby said parallel members 17 are maintained in predetermined spaced relation, and at a point intermediate the parallel members 17, the cross .bar 18 is provided with the opening 19 through which i the striking arm 20 is loosely directed. The

outer end of the striking arm 20 is provided with the cross head 21 and secured to the opposite ends of the cross head 21 are the re- 7 tractile members 22 which are also secured to the forward ends of the parallel members stood as limiting myself to the 17. It is preferred that the retractile members 22 consist of elastic bands. I

The space between the parallel members 17 affords a guide in which the projectile P is initially positioned, and said projectile is adapted to be struck by the striking arm 20 under the influence of the retractile member 22, whereby it will be perceived that the projectile P will be impelled toward the home plate. I

The impelling member is under control of one player while the striking member or bat is under control of the second player, and it will be perceived that unusual skill may be developed in operating the'impelling member and to release the striking member or bat at such a time as to cause the projectile to be knocked into fair territory. It is to be noted that the forward ends of the parallel members 17 term inate between the fielding members C at the rear thereof, and it is also to be noted that the retracting movement of the striking arm 20 is controlled by the stop 23 secured to the base board 1 at a predetermined point rearwardly of the impelling device.

I also find it of advantage to provide the rear face of the cross bar 18 with the bufiers 24 with which the cross head 21 engages in a manner and for a purpose which is believed to be clearly apparent.

It has been found in practice that best results are obtained by having the retractile members 14: and 22 of substantially the same tension. This can be accomplished by turning said retractile members about the set screws 25 which are herein employed as the anchoring means therefor.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to beobvious that an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be underrecise arrangement and formation of t e several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice.

I claim:

A game of the character described comprising an impelling mechanism, said impelling mechanism consisting of elongated parallel members, a cross member connect-- ing adjacent ends thereof and maintaining said elongated members in predetermined guide, a striking arm slidably disposed through the connecting bar and movable between the elongated members, a cross head limit of its movement under the influence carried by the outerend of the striking arm, of the retractile members terminating inand extending beyond the opposite ends of wardly of the forward ends of the parallel the cross member, a retractile member semembers.

\ cured to each end of the cross head and to In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my 15 the forward-end of the adjacent parallel signature in the presence of two witnesses.

member, and a bufier carried by the cross WILSON W. HARBOUBT. member and with which the cross head en- Witnesses: gages under the influence of the 'retrac- CHAS. BAUMEISTER,

0 tile means, said striking arm when at the JAMES FOLEY. 

